Valise.



c. KRUEGBR.

VALISE.

APILIOATIOK FILED HOV. 3'9. 1909.

Patented July 26, 1910.

IN VEN TOR WITNESSES:

ATTGRNE Y 1H E Nanms PETERS cm, WASHINGTON, n. c.

rra sa VALISE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 26, 1910.

Application filed November 29, 1909. Serial No. 530,406.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHRISTIAN KRUEGER, a citizen of the United States, residing atSan Francisco, in the county of San Francisco and State of California, have invented new and useful Improvements in Valises, of which the following is a specification.

The object of the present invention is to provide a valise or traveling case or bag which, while light in weight, and cheap and simple in construction, will be durable in use, and, when closed, will sufficiently exclude dust and rain. 9

In the accompanying drawing, Figure l is a perspective view of the valise open; Fig. 2 is a perspective view of one of the stiffening strips.

On referring to the drawing, it will be seen that the body of the valise is made up of a main piece, which forms the front 1, bottom 2, back 3, top 4, and top flap 5, and end pieces 6, each of which is bent inward at the edges, and riveted, as shown at 7, to the main body portion, the edges of said body portion being bound with a thin strip 8 of leather or similar material. Both the body and the end pieces are preferably formed of cheap flexible material, such as matting, lined on the inside with cotton or other cloth. The front and back are parallel to each other, the ends at right angles to the front and back, and the bottom, as likewise the top when the receptacle is closed, at right angle to the front, back, and ends, so that the receptacle is rectangular in form when closed. The top flap 5 extends downward over the front, and is secured by means of tongues 9 riveted to said top flap and extending into sockets of socket pieces 10, riveted, as shown at 11, to the front of the valise, yokes 12, resiliently pivoted on said socket pieces, being adapted to pass over blocks 13 formed on said tongues to maintain the receptacle closed. A metallic handle 14 is secured to the top 4 of the receptacle.

A valise constructed merely as above described is not satisfactory in use, if made of light and cheap material, such as matting, for the reason that the upper edges of the end pieces very readily bend outward when the valise is well filled, owing to the insufficient resistance presented by said upper edges when made of such material to, the outward pressure of the contents. I therefore adopt the following construction. Re-

ferring to Fig. 2, 20 indicates a strip of metal, having a main-central portion 21 and terminal portions 22 bent at right angles to the central portion 21. The upper edges of both the main and the terminal portions are bent over at right angles. Said strengthening strips 20 are secured upon, and outside of, the upper edges of end pieces, the terminal portions 22 being clamped upon the inwardly bent portions of said end pieces, the central portions 21 being riveted in the center as shown at 25. These strengthening strips, like the handle 14, are then japanned of the same color as the leather or other binding 8.

The strengthening strips 20 offer great resistance to bending by reason of the central flanged portion 21 thereof extending inward or horizontally from the tops of the ends of the valise, yet they add very little to the weight of the receptacle. Said flanged portions of the strips, extending inwardly below the top of the box when the latter is closed, also form a very efficient closure against dust and rain entering the valise.

Thus, by means of the above construction, I am enabled to provide a valise which is convenient in form, pleasing in appearance, and which particularly, is durable in use although it is very light in weight and can be made and sold at a very small cost.

I claim 1. The combination ofaboxhaving a front, bottom, back, top, end pieces each having inwardly bent marginal portions secured to said front and back, and a strengthening strip for each end, formed of metal and having terminal portions bent at right angles to the central portion the upper edges of said terminal portions being bent around the upper edges of the marginal portions of the end piece, and having also a central portion secured to the upper edge of the end piece between the terminal portions and having an inwardly extending flange, substantially as described.

2. The combination of a box having a front, bottom, back, top, end pieces each having inwardly bent marginal portions secured to said front and back, and a strengthening strip for each end, formed of metal and having terminal portions bent at right angles to the central portion the upper edges of said terminal portions being bent around the upper edges of the marginal portions of the end piece, and having also a central portion secured to the upper edge of the end piece between the terminal portions, and having a flange extending inwardly at right angles thereto, substantially as described.

3. The combination of a box made of a front, bottom, back, top, and top flap made in a single piece, end pieces each having inwardly bent marginal portions secured to front and back, and a strengthening strip for each end, formed of metal, and having terminal portions bent at right angles to the central portion, the upper edges of said terminal portions being bent around the i upper edges of the marginal portions of the end piece, and havlng also a central portion secured to the upper edge of the end piece between the terminal portions, and a flange extending inwardly at right angles thereto, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

CHRISTIAN KRUEGER.

WVitnesses FRANCIS M. WRIGHT, D. B. RICHARDS. 

